Electric circuit breaker



P. THIEME ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan. 14, 1953 April 3, 1934.

h'WVQH COF'Z Paul Thierne His Attorney Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE issagss-" ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Paul Thieme,Kopenick, Wendenschloss, Germany, assignor to General Electric Company,a corporation of New York f Application January. 14, 1933, Serial No.651,777

In Germany. April 20, 1932 Claims. (01. 200-150) My invention relates toelectric circuit break-- ers and more particularly to circuit breakersof the type utilizing an arc extinguishing liquid.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of an improvedcircuit breaker of the aforesaid type which is simple, rugged andcompact in construction, efficient in operation and comparatively freeof objectionable liquid throw during normal operation.

'My invention will be more fully set forth in the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawing, and the features ofnovelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to w. and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly insection of a part of a circuit breaker embodying my invention and Fig. 2is a similar view showing a modified form of go my invention.

The circuit breaker illustrated by way of examplecomprises relativelymovable contacts including a stationary socket contact 1 and a coactingmovable rod contact 2. The contacts ooact within a pressure confiningchamber 3 in which the stationary contact is suitably mounted. Thepressure confining chamber 3 may be formed in any suitable manner as bya cylindrical member 4 closed at one end as at 5 and pro vided at itsopposite end with an exhaust opening which is arranged to receive themovable rod contact 2. The pressure confining chamber likewise containsan arc extinguishing liquid as hereinafter described.

In a circuit breaker of this type it will be apparent that separation ofthe contacts for the purpose of interrupting a high tension powercircuit causes intensive arcing which tends to vaporize and expel liquidfrom the chamber 3 due to the high pressure generated therein. For thepurpose of receiving the exhaust liquid and for aiding interruption ofthe circuit, there is provided a casing '7 which is in communicationwith the exhaust opening 6 so as directly to receive liquid expelledfrom the chamber 3 during circuit interruption. The casing 7 may becomposed of a suitable insulating material and is provided with anopening 4 in which the cylindrical memher 4 is secured. An arcextinguishing liquid 8,

as water or oil for example, partly fills the casing 7 so as completelyto cover the exhaust opening 6 of the pressure confining chamber.

For the purpose of reducing and minimizing the expulsion of liquidduring circuit interruption the casing 7 is provided with a deflectingwall or partition 9, forming with the casing a second chamber 10 throughwhich the movable rod contact is operable. The deflecting wall 9 isdisposed substantially opposite the exhaust opening 6 and is inclinedwith respect to the exhaust of liquid therefrom so as to deflect theliquid into the lateral extension 7' of the casing 7 as diagrammaticallyillustrated. It will be noted that the longitudinal axis of the casing 7is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressureconfining chamber 3, the deflecting wall 9 being inclined approximately45 to each axis so as to deflect liquid expelled from said chamberacross thearc drawn between the contacts and longitudinally of thecasing 7. 79 The deflecting wall 9 is provided with an opening 9' forreceiving the movable contact, the casing 7 likewise being provided withan aligned opening 2 for said contact.

.When the circuit is to be interrupted, the rod contact 2 is movedupwards by suitable operating means, not shown, with the result that thearc is drawn-between contacts 1 and 2 within the chamber 3. Theresulting pressure causes expulsion of liquid from said chamber in thedirection of the 80 are when the rod contact has cleared the exhaustopening, the main part of the liquid being deflected by the wall 9 intothe lateral extension of the casing 7 and across the are formed betweenthe contacts. It will be apparent that the defiec- 5- tion of liquidthrough the arc aids interruption thereof in the event that the arc isnot already extinguished shortly after the rod 2 has cleared the exhaustopening. Upon further opening movement of the contact 2 expelled liquidis free to enter the second chamber 10 through the opening 9 which is ofsmall cross sectional area as compared with the deflecting wall. Theamount of liquid directed through this opening is therefore not largeand is collected in the chamber 10 so that the final expulsion of liquidfrom the circuit breaker is negligible.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification wherein the deflecting wall 9 isprovided with a portion 11 which is spaced from the upper wall of thecasing 7 so as to provide communication as at 11 between the chamber 10and the interior of the casing 7. The operation is substantially thesame as described above except that when the rod contact 2 is in theposition shown during circuit interrup- 106 tion, pressure within thechamber 10 due to expulsion of liquid through the opening 9 may berelieved by way of the opening 11'. Accordingly there is little or notendency for liquid to escape through the opening 2 in the casing 7. no

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specificdetails of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, andthat changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:-

1. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, apressure confining chamber containing an arc extinguishing liquid inwhich one of said contacts is disposed, the coacting contact beingmovable into and out of said chamber through an exhaust opening therein,a casing in communication with said exhaust opening through which saidmovable contact is withdrawn upon separation of said'contacts, and apartition forming with said casing a second chamber through which saidmovable contact is operable, said partition being substantially oppositeand inclined in substantially the same direction with respect to theexhaust of liquid from said pressure confining chamber during circuitinterruption.

2. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, apressure confining chamber containing an extinguishing liquid in whichsaid contacts are arranged to separate, said chamber having an exhaustopening through which one of said contacts is drawn during circircuitinterruption so that said liquid is deflected across the are drawnbetween said contacts and into said lateral extension.

3. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, apressure confining chamber containing an arc extinguishing liquid inwhich one of said contacts is disposed, the coacting contact beingmovable into and out of said chamber through an exhaust opening therein,a casing into which liquid may exhaust through said opening, thelongitudinal axis of said casing being substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said pressure confining chamber and a partitionforming with said casing a second chamber through which said movablecontact is operable, said partition being substantially opposite saidexhaust opening and inclined in substantially the same direction so asto defiect liquid expelled from said chamber longitudinally of saidcasing.

4. An electric circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact and amovable contact, a pressure confining chamber containing an areextinguishing liquid in which said contacts coact, said stationarycontact being disposed in said chamber and said rod contact movablethrough an exhaust opening therein, a casing having a lateral extensioninto which liquid from said chamber may exhaust through said opening,and a partition within said casing having a substantially plane portiondisposed above said opening and inclined with respect thereto so as todeflectliquid expelled from said chamber into said lateral extension andacross the are formed between said contacts.

5. An electric circuit interrupter comprising relatively movablecontacts and a pressure confining chamber containing an arcextinguishing liquid in which said contacts are arranged to separate,said chamber having an exhaust opening through which one of saidcontacts is drawn during circuit interruption, a casing having a lateralextension in communication with said exhaust opening, and asubstantially plane deflecting Wall disposed above and inclined withrespect to said exhaust opening forming a second chamber through whichsaid movable contact is operable, said wall having an aperture forreceiving said movable contact and being spaced from the wall of saidcasing at one end to provide communication between said second chamberand casing.

PAUL, THIEME.

